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In the world of football, there are few things more satisfying than watching a goalkeeper celebrate with a bunch of his teammates after pulling off a worldie save. These moments could be just as crucial as an injury time winner.
Unlike strikers, who get numerous opportunities throughout the game to convert chances, goalkeepers don't share that luxury. A goalkeeper may go an entire game without being involved, but even a single lapse in concentration could cost the team three points.
Clean sheets are one of the main criteria that people jump to while assessing a goalkeeper. But basing their performance solely on that statistic can be misleading, as the defenders, and to some extent the midfielders, play an equally important role in guarding the goal.
Nevertheless, with the 2020-21 Premier League season drawing to a close, let's take a look at the top 5 goalkeepers so far this campaign.
#5 Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City)
Kasper Schmeichel has been Leicester City's No. 1 goalkeeper in all of his nine years at the King Power Stadium. The Dane has also lifted the Premier League trophy in the 2015-16 season with the Foxes.
After a couple of 9th place finishes in the last four seasons, Leicester City have found their form this year and so has Kasper Schmeichel. With 83 saves and 11 cleansheets this season, Schmeichel has been an integral cog in Leicester's wheel.
#4 Illan Meslier (Leeds United)
Illan Meslier has had a brilliant first Premier League season. With Leeds United back in the Premiership after sixteen long years, the 21-year-old has dealt with the pressure remarkably.
His tally of 136 saves in the league is second only to West Bromwich Albion's Sam Johnstone. Meslier has kept 10 clean sheets in 34 appearances this season, making him the youngest Premier League goalkeeper to reach that tally.
#3 Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa)
Emiliano Martínez has had an inspired first season at Aston Villa. He spent nine years at Arsenal without getting much game time as he was loaned out to several Championship clubs during that period. Martinez's move to Aston Villa has surely been a step up for the Argentine.
Martinez has kept 14 clean sheets in 34 appearances in the Premier League this season. With 3.62 saves per 90 minutes to his name, the club has conceded only 41 goals so far this season as compared to 67 in the entire 2019-20 campaign.
#2 Édouard Mendy (Chelsea)
Kepa Arrizabelaga's risky antics in goal last season confirmed Chelsea's interest in looking elsewhere.
Enter Edouard Mendy.
The Senegalese has helped calm Chelsea's backline and seal their otherwise porous defense. Mendy has conceded just 23 goals so far in his 29 league appearances. The 29-year old has kept 16 clean sheets, which has propelled Chelsea to third place in the league table.
Edouard Mendy is an excellent passer of the ball, an aspect that has become extremely important for the modern-day goalkeeper. His 82.93% pass completion rate this season is proof of his ball-playing skills.
Mendy could cap off an already impressive year with more success if Chelsea win the UEFA Champions League and/or the FA Cup, whose finals are to be played later this month.
#1 Ederson (Manchester City)
The number one spot for the best goalkeeper in the 2020-21 Premier League season goes to Manchester City's Ederson.
Ever since the club recruited him from Benfica in the summer of 2017, the Brazilian has only improved and has arguably become one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Ederson is agile, commanding, physically imposing, and is highly regarded for his immaculate distribution ability. He is indeed a sweeper-keeper who oftentimes starts City's attack from the back.
Ederson enjoys rushing off his line to narrow down shooting angles for the opposing strikers. With the Brazilian between the sticks, Manchester City have kept 18 clean sheets in 34 league games, the highest of any goalkeeper this season in the Premier League. Ederson also boasts of a pass completion rate of 82.19%.
